Malacañang on Wednesday called on potential witnesses in the flood control scandal to fully cooperate by revealing everything they know and returning any illegally acquired wealth.
The statement came after contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya met with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to discuss becoming state witnesses.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro explained that while the Witness Protection Program (WPP) law does not explicitly require witnesses to return stolen assets, they are expected to cooperate under Republic Act 6981. She noted that the DOJ may set reasonable conditions for admission into the program.
“Unang-una po, kapag sinabi po natin na sasalang dito, sila po ay kinakailangang magsalita, magsabi ng katotohanan, buong katotohanan – tell all, kumbaga. Kapag sinabi nilang ‘tell all’, ibig sabihin pati iyong liabilities nila ay dapat na maisiwalat,” Castro said.
She added that returning ill-gotten funds would demonstrate good faith.
“At kapag may pag-amin na sa kanilang naisiwalat na kanilang diumano’y pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, hindi po ba nararapat din na isauli nila ito upang makita ang kanilang good faith instead na hintayin pa na ang gobyerno ang magsampa ng kaso sa kanila,” she said.
Castro stressed that government resources will be used to protect witnesses, making full cooperation necessary.
“Ang mga witness na nagnanais ng proteksiyon mula sa gobyerno ay humihingi ng tulong sa gobyerno, hindi po ba dapat din na sila ay magbalik sa gobyerno habang sila ay pinuproteksyunan. Gagastusan sila ng gobyerno, so kailangan din po na sila ay tumulong sa gobyerno,” she added.